Cervical collars



July 3, 1962 P. MONFARDIQI 3,042,027

CERVICAL COLLARS Filed March 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO'R. 37/ 4/ LOUIS P. MONFARDINI L. P. MONFARDIN] July 3, 1962 CERVICAL COLLARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 24. 1959 INVENTOR.

LOUIS P. MONFARDINI y 1962 P. MONFARDINI 3,042,027

CERVICAL COLLARS Filed March 24, 1959 5 s t s t 3 INVENTOR.

LOUIS P. MONFARDINI A TTORNE Y atent Ofifrce 3,042,027 Patented July 3, 1962 3,042,027 ERVICAL COLLARS Louis P. Monfardini, Winter Park, Fla, assignor to Florida Brace Corporation, Winter Park, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 801,540 3 Claims. (Cl. 12875) The present invention relates to cervical collars and particularly to reversible cervical collars comprised of articulated diametrically opposed units adjustable for specific anterior and posterior neck angles and which units if desired may be interchangeable to provide for many variations which a physician or surgeon may prescribe.

Collars of this type are for use in pathological conditions, such as arthritis, wry neck or torticollis, traumatic conditions, sublaxations and dislocations, muscular strains, and for post-fracture treatment and particularly with the present invention a specialized structure for a particular anterior or posterior neck condition.

Hereto-fore no cervical collars of the reversible type have been provided with diametrically opposed vertical units adjustable with substantial precision to accommodate varying anterior and/or posterior angular neck formations of individuals. Such angular measurements and prescribed collar unit adjustments are extremely important to treat some neck conditions and may be made by the treating surgeon or doctor, who has determined the exact unit adjustments for the required results and the adjustable units of the present invention are made to be set to provide the physicians calculated angular positions for carefully calculated respective normal anterior and/ or posterior head and neck angles in accordance with the neck injury being treated.

An object of this invention is to provide a cervical collar having units adaptable to be combined in various arrangements for the most efficient treatment of the aforementioned pathological conditions or involvements in either the anterior neck triangle or the posterior neck triangle.

Another object is to improve the structural features of prior cervical collars of this type by elimination for certain floating fastener elements and of slot formations in the collar material subject to tear, such as previously used and which tend to affect the durability of the collar material and accurate adjustments of the collar units.

Another object is to provide a reversible cervical collar having novel diametrically opposed units each adapted to be vertically adjusted to obtain a plurality of adjustments for both flexion and hyper-extension.

A further object is to provide a novel kit of cervical collar parts for doctors and hospitals adapted to be formed into interchangeable units, to thereby form partially adjustable, completely adjustable and non-adjustable collars as the doctor prescribes.

A further object is to provide a reversible collar of opposed articulate diametric half sectional units, wherein the units are vertically adjustable to accommodate the respective anterior triangle of the neck with respect to the posterior triangle of the neck as divided by the side outline of the sterno-mastoidal muscle, with the lower base of each unit conforming and engageable with the clavicle or collar-bone which forms the lower limit of the neck; and also each unit is contoured to the slope caused by the trapezius muscle, that is, the lateral outward slope of the neck from the clavicle or collar bone to the shoulder as defined by the trapezius muscle. This angle of slope varies with individuals and the present novel units are adjustable to likewise provide for proper conformity to this angle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the details description which follows, taken with the accompanying drawings wherein three embodiments of the invention are illustrated. It is to be eXpressely understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention. Reference for this latter purpose should be had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views;

FIGURE 1 is an assembled perspective view of a first embodiment of a reversible cervical collar being vertically adjustable for flexion or hyperextension and also for diametric relation to suit the neck size of a patient;

FIGURE 2 is an outer plan view of one of the units of the improved collar in a flat positoin;

FIGURE 3 is an outer plan view of the other unit of said first embodiment in a flat position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a reversible cervical collar comprising two novel diametrically opposed units, one of which is vertically adjustable and the other of which is vertically non-adjustable with means to provide for neck size;

FIGURE 5 is an outer plan View of the vertically adjustable unit of the improved second embodiment in a flat position;

FIGURE 6 is an outer plan view of the vertically nonadjustable unit in a flat position;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a novel reversible collar with two vertically non'adjustable units of different size arranged in diametric opposition to each other with the free end of each unit alternately overlapped and arranged for diametrical adjust ment to neck size and reversible for flexion and hyperextension.

FIGURE 8 is an outer flat plan view of the larger of said units of embodiment three; and

FIGURE 9 is an outer flat plan view of the smaller of said units of embodiment three.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and first with particular reference to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 illustrating a first embodiment of the invention, the cervical collar illustrated comprises two units A and B. Each unit is curved to fit around a portion of a persons neck and these units are separable as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. When assembled the collar units A and B have their respective free ends lapped over each other on each side and when secured together by suitable means, such as straps 10 and 11 swivelly secured around the shank of a rivet 13 on each side face adjacent the free end of unit A and snap fastened by female snap fastener buckle means 14 and one of a plurality of diametrically spaced apart male snap fastener elements 15, 16 and 17, there is prow'ded an articulate connection between the units. The specific point of lap of the unit end comes approximately at the neck dividing line provided by the sternomastoidal neck muscle of a wearer of the collar, while the units A and B fit adjacent anterior or posterior triangles of the neck on either side of said neck muscle.

To provide the proper adjustment of the collar for flexion, hyperextension and/or for support of the head in a level position and the like, unit A may comprise an upper and a lower section 18 and 19, respectively. The upper section 18 may be lapped over the lower section 19 or vice versa and the sections are secured together by a pair of spaced substantially parallel centrally positioned elongated adjusting elements 20 and 21, and at each side port-ion adjacent the lapped ends of the unit A by similar elongated adjusting elements 22 and 23, which are angularly positioned with respect to said first mentioned centrally positioned adjusting elements. The angular adjusting elements 22 and 23 on each respective side smaller.

of the unit A are arranged to be positioned with their angular mid-sections adjacent the side sterno-mastoidal neck muscle on each side of the neck when assembled with the unit B and encircling the neck.

Since the structure of each of the adjusting elements 20, 21, 22 and 23 is identical a detailed description of adjusting element 20 only is necessary. For example, the element 20 comprises an elongated member 24 formed centrally with an elongated slot 25 and the end of which below the slot is riveted to the material of the lower section 19 by a rivet 26. The opposite end of the member 24 at the tip edge 27 is formed with an ofiset guide tab 28. The tab 28 engages in the elongated slot 30 of a similar elongated member 29 having its end opposite to the rivet end of member 24 secured by a rivet 31 to the upper section 18 of unit A in a manner to position the respective elongated slots 25 and 30 in a partial superimposed alignment to permit an adjusting headed set screw or bolt 32 carried by the end of member 29 to extend through the slot 25 of member 24 and provide for locking the members of the adjusting elements in their respective adjusted positions.

In some instances, it is desirable to mark the members 29 with a scale 33 to provide for precision adjustment according to a physicians or surgeons calculations. For example, the straight edge 27 of member 24 is adjusted with respect to the linear scale 33 for each of the adjusting elements, as desired. Also, with the present measurement scales 33 on each adjusting element a quick and equal adjustment may be made without the use of separate rulers and gages as were formerly required.

Section 18 has its entire exposed edge bound with a protective cushion 34 and also the section may be formed with ventilation openings 35 along the peripheral face thereof adjacent the bound edges.

Unit B, see FIGURES l and 3, is similar to unit A, but However, unit B likewise comprises upper and lower sections 36 and 37 arranged in lapped relation for vertical adjustment. These sections are secured together by a center adjusting element 38, see FIG. 3, and at each side adjacent the sterno-mastoidal neck muscle position with an angular adjusting element 39 and 4t] slanting in the reverse direction with respect to the angular adjusting elements 22 and 23 of the unit A.

'I he unit B like unit A has its entire exposed edges bound with a protective cushion 41 and a plurality of ventilation openings 42 along the peripheral face of each section adjacent the bound edges. Also, in distinction to the unit A, the unit B is arranged with the plurality of spaced-apart aligned male snap fastener parts 15, 16 and 17 for coactive connection with the female snap fastener buckle 14 on straps 10 and 11 tethered to rivet 13 of unit A.

A second form of cervical collar of the reversible type having an adjustable dual section unit B with lapped sections 18 and 19 very similar to the unit B of form 1 is illustrated in FIGURES 4, and 6. This form includes a second relatively smaller unit C having a single section with a plurality of spaced male snap fasteners 44. These fasteners coact with the female fastener element 45 of strap buckle 46 slidably mounted on a strap 47. One end of the strap 47 is apertured and fits around the shank of a' rivet 48 mounted through the free end thereof and through the upper section 18 of unit B. Said rivet 48 also mounts the free end of the member 49 of an adjusting angular element 50, which is substantially the same as has a guide tongue 58 which is engaged in the slot 54 of member 51.

Unit B has a single vertical adjusting element 59 positioned at the bight of the half sectional curve thereof and is secured at each end by rivets 60 and 61 in the lower edge surfaces of each section 18 and 19", so as to span the lapped portions of the upper and lower sections 18 and 19. Otherwise, this element is identical in structure with the side adjusting elements 50* on each side of the unit B. For example, the scale 56, members 49 and 51 with aligned slots 53--54 and guide tongue 58 are all included in unit B.

Each unit B and C are bound along their respective exposed edges with cushion bindings 62 and Hand 64 and 65 to protect the wearer from neck irritation.

Thus in the second embodiment there is provideda collar wherein one unit, namely B, is vertically adjustable and a second diametrically opposed vertically nonadjustable unit C is articulatably connected to unit B, such unit C, for example, having been made to order as specified by a physicians measurements, which specifications require unit C to remain fixed during the complete treatment period; While the unit B may be adjusted at a later period in the treatment to adjust or compensate for any angular changes. This second embodiment is similar to my prior Patent Number 2,828,736, issued April 1, 1958 and assigned to the Florida Brace Corporation of Florida, the assignee of the present invention. However, the unit B of this invention has eliminated the formation of any adjusting slots in the material of the'sections or floating fastener connections in such slots, andlikewise the adjusting means are calibrated with a measuring scale and angularly positioned on each side of unit B, to thereby permit use of duplicate adjusting elements.

A third embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of diametrically articulatable connectable units C and C of relatively different size in which all adjusting elements, such as illustrated in the first two embodiments are eliminated. Each of these units is made of single sections and when connected together in their respective neck enclosing diametrically opposed relationship are arranged to be diametrically adjustable by individual or separate strap means and 71 on which are slidably mounted buckles 72 and'73, each with a central female snap fastener element 74 and 75. The fastener elements 74 and 75 each cooperate with a plurality of male snap fastener elements 76, 77 and 78, and 79, 80 and 81, and 82, 83 and 84, and 85, 86 and 87, respectively, on opposite sides of the units C and C when their free ends are alternately lapped to provide the said articulated connection.

In the threeembodiments illustrated there are illustrated three distinct cervical collars, namely, a collar comprising units A and B, a collar comprising'units B and C and a collar comprising units C and C. Also, it is to be noted that units A, B, B, .C andfC may be interchangeable to provide various collar combinations and if desired may be packaged in a kit, not shown, adapted to hold the several individual sections knockeddown for assembly as desired. For example, units A, B and B are comprised of vertically adjustable sections, and each of these sections vary slightly in size, so that different collars may be formed by selective assembly of the individual units, to thereby provide different anterior and posterior adjustable unit combinations. Then units C and C are single section collar units and may be variably combined with each other, used singly in a non-diametrically opposed arrangement to provide a small collar for children, or assembled alternately with any of the vertically adjustable units as required for larger collars as required. Thus with five ditferent units to a kit many diiferentforms of cervical collars may be created and such kits may be distributed to physicians, surgeons and hospitals to provide for cervical collars to suit' most all emergencies.

While the foregoing specification describes and the drawings illustrate the specific details of this invention, it is to be expressly understood that the same is not limited by these details and is therefore susceptible to changes and modifications within the scope of the appended claims without a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A reversible cervical collar formed of a pair of diametrically opposed interchangeable units of different size which may be joined together to form a unitary collar, one of said units being formed of vertically adjustable upper and lower sections, adjustable means securing said sections together, said adjustable means comprising at least one elongated extensible and retractable vertical element connected at its respective upper and lower ends to the adjacent marginal surfaces of the respectively connected upper and lower sections intermediate the end marginal surfaces of said upper and lower sections, and angularly positioned elongated extensible and retractable elements secured at their ends adjacent the end marginal surfaces of said upper and lower sections of said one unit, and flexible securing means canried by the upper corners of said upper section of said one unit and detachably engaged with the other interchangeable unit for securing said units together to form a unitary collar.

2. A cervical collar comprising a pair of diametrically opposed front and rear vertically adjustable units each being wide at the center and tapering to relatively narrow end portions, one of said units being adjustable to various sizes relatively larger than the various sizes to which the other unit may be adjusted and each unit comprising upper and lower vertically adjustable sections, cushion binding around the peripheral bottom edge of the lower section and the peripheral top edge of the upper section, elongated adjustable elements secured at their ends to the upper and lower vertically adjustable sections of each of said units adjacent the said binding of each of said sections, some of said elements being centrally and vertically positioned transverse the vertically adjustable sections of said units at the wide center portions thereof and others of said elements being angularly positioned at the relatively narrower end portions of said units, the securing means for said angularly positioned elements being staggered vertically in different upper and lower horizontal planes and being each provided with a shank, and means to join the front and rear units together to form a unitary collar, said last named means comprising a strap secured to each respective end of the upper section of the said front unit, each strap being formed with the opening in one end pivotally mounted around the shank of said securing means in the upper horizontal plane of said angularly positioned elements, said straps each extending over and partially embracing said diametrically opposed rear unit, said rear unit having a plurality of horizontally spaced male snap elements and adjustable buckles on each of said respective straps having a mid-portion formed with a female snap fastener adapted to secure to one of said male snap elements, whereby said respective angularly positioned elements in operative association with said straps provide a freely articulatable diametrically and vertically adjustable connection between said front and rear collar units.

3. The cervical collar described in claim 2, wherein the said adjustable elements are comprised of lapped elongated members having aligned elongated slots, a linear scale formed on the face of one member, and connecting means mounted on the members extending into said slots to guide and secure the members in adjusted positions, and an adjustable index edge formed from one member adapted to traverse said scale on said scale formed member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,690 Schreiber Nov. 27, 1945 2,765,533 McMorris Oct. 9, 1956 2,801,630 Moore Aug. 6, 1957 2,828,736 Mon'fardini Apr. 1, 1958 2,911,970 Bartels Nov. 10, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Braces Today (Newsletter), October 1957 (FIG- URE 1 only relied on). (Copy in Division 55.) 

